We’ve been working for years to bring an end to the lawsuits over the Albright Way development and provide the certainty that Netflix needs to expand in Los Gatos. We were relieved that cooler heads have prevailed and a settlement has been reached that keeps 100 percent of our 2013 town council approvals intact while also accomplishing the town’s desired outcome for the project.

The initiative on the June ballot will allow our development team and Netflix to move on with final certainty and also ensure that future lawsuits cannot unravel what has been accomplished by this collective compromise agreement.

John R. Shenk

Palo Alto

Developer John Shenk is the representative for Los Gatos Business Park, LLC, owners of the Albright Way property and the group behind the Albright Way Specific Plan initiative.

Not everyone appreciates a canine greeting

Is your dog a “token” pet? Think about it. Did you get the little bitch or dog (appropriate canine gender terms) because you need her or him, or simply because your neighbor has one? And do you hire a dog walker to exercise and socialize the little gal or guy?

As for canine greetings, a mutt jumping up on you is like a stranger excitedly wiping his shoe soles on your clothes–with both feet.

And for sniffing, think where that little snout has been. Have you ever seen a dog sniff, say, a flower? Probably not. They sniff the same stuff you avoid and/or step in on the sidewalk or trail, as well as the orifice from whence that came, which, as we know, is the standard canine greeting.

But dog owners can be clever, like our neighbors, the Bernards, several years ago. They had a Great Dane whose name was Saint. Get it? A Great Dane named Saint Bernard.

J. Richard Gaskill Los Gatos

Residents are not in favor of express toll lanes

Two weeks ago, approximately 70 people met with John Ristow, a VTA representative, who presented the agency’s plans for adding two express toll lanes in the median strip to Highway 85.

There was only person in favor of the plan, and that was Mr. Ristow! The opposition arguments varied, but every one of them presented valid concerns and questions regarding the project. Mr. Ristow was either unable or unwilling to answer some of the questions posed.

The bottom line is that the VTA plan will not benefit Saratoga, Los Gatos or Monte Sereno drivers as there will be no access to the proposed express toll lanes.

VTA has no plans to address the several choke points that, in fact, appear to be the greatest problem affecting the flow of traffic on Highway 85 during commute times. And in spite of a written agreement between several cities (including Saratoga) and VTA for building light rail, according to Mr. Ristow at the library meeting, “there will be no light rail, ever” in or near Saratoga.

It is obvious that the current plan is already obsolete and doesn’t address what most commuters feel is the real problem–the choke points. It is an ill conceived plan and should be shelved immediately.

At the last Saratoga City Council meeting, nearly 10 speakers urged our council to oppose the VTA project. During the meeting, Councilman Howard Miller expressed his support for the VTA project; how then, can he truly represent Saratoga if the majority of our residents oppose the express lanes? Since he appears to be lobbying for the VTA express lanes, there is, at the very least, an appearance of conflict of interest involved.

It is vital that Saratoga and our city council join with Cupertino and request an updated EIR. Saratoga also needs to join Los Gatos and Monte Sereno and any other cities opposing the VTA’s express lanes plan, or we will be forced to endure more traffic, noise and air pollution while being unable to avail ourselves of the express toll lanes. We were promised light rail, not additional vehicle lanes (in fact, the agreements specifically state that Highway 85 will have no more than six lanes). Saratoga must demand that VTA uphold the agreements that allowed Highway 85 to be built through our city.